Cuomo Bridge Tolls Could Double

In order to pay for the construction of the new twin-span Mario Cuomo Bridge in New York, tolls on the bridge may double, according to reports, increasing for both E-ZPass users and commuters who pay with cash.

According to the NY Daily News, the price is slated to rise from $5 to $10 for E-ZPass users, and up to $11 for cash payers. Drivers who use the commuter program would pay around $7.

The state intends to use the extra money to pay off the $2.9 billion in loans it has taken out to construct the new cable-stayed spans that replaced the old Tappan Zee Bridge, according to the Citizens Budget Commission.

Toll Increase

“Increasing the toll on the Cuomo Bridge is the most appropriate and equitable way to repay the loans and bonds used to build this bridge,” said CBC President Carol Kellermann.

New York State Thruway Commission

In order to pay for the construction of the span of the Mario Cuomo Bridge (left), tolls may double, according to reports, increasing for both E-ZPass users and commuters who pay with cash.

Comprised of a set of two 3.1-mile cable-stayed spans across the Hudson River between South Nyack and Tarrytown, New York, the bridge began accepting traffic overnight Aug. 25.

The bridge is set to carry eight dedicated traffic lanes, as well as a bicycle and pedestrian path with belvederes for rest and sightseeing. Initially, four lanes of westbound/northbound traffic moved to the new span, with four more lanes headed in the opposite direction to still be added this fall, allowing for the complete closure of the old Tappan Zee.

Each span has a 1,200-foot-long main span, with staying cables extending from chamfered towers that reach 419 feet above the water. The southbound/eastbound span will measure 87 feet in width, while the northbound/westbound span will be 96 feet wide.

A total of 192 cables hold the two spans, ranging from 190 to 623 feet long. Each cable is made of intertwined metal strands surrounded by a polymer gel for corrosion protection, and sheathed with a ribbed protective casing to protect against vandalism, weather and other potential issues.